Posted
by
CmdrTacoon Friday January 29, 2010 @01:49PM
from the chevron-1-encoded dept.

will_die writes "After all the recent auctions for Propworx's Battlestar Galactica props, they are now selling off 15 years of Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis props. Over the next couple of months minor items will be sold on eBay, and the major items will be sold in two live auctions. eBay auctions will consist of smaller props, most costumes, drawings and even parts of Stargates. The live auctions will contain items such as the Thor puppet, The Ark of Truth, and the only fully working Stargate. (Multiple Stargates needed for travel)." My wife will be bidding on Daniel Jackson. I wouldn't mind a Zat gun, but at $3K–$4K, it's a bit rich for my blood... although if the neighbor's dog keeps getting out of his electric fence I might have no choice...

Buy a brick of velveeta cheese and a bottle of castor oil. Sprinkle some of the castor oil on the brick and feed it to the dog every time it gets out of the fence.

How appropriate, that sounds more like a Jack O'Neil solution than a MacGyver solution. MacGyver would have increased the voltage to the dog using a paper clip, a roll of newspaper, and two tube socks. A Samantha Carter solution of course would be to trap the dog and the neighbor in a black hole paralell universe using the power of science. A Daniel Jackson solution would be to interpret the ancient runes on the dog's collar, call the neighbor, and whine until the neighbor agreed to promise to not let the dog get over into the yard again. Teal'c would just stare the neighbor down, clenching and unclenching his jaw, until the neighbor shit his pants and moved away.

This is slashdot, why talk to someone when there's a perfectly stupid, immoral, anti-social solution that really shows what a pathetic person you are? Don't you have a tv-b-gone so you can shut someone's TV without having to ask them to turn it down?

You're right, you should just talk to your neighbor about that frothing pit bull.

if the neighbor's dog keeps getting out of his electric fence

Sounds like he's been warned. If the dog is on your property and you're neighbor can't take care of it and you have kids you fear for then take care of the dog.

Very rarely will you find the owner with his jaws clamped around your leg.

It's the fucking dog, you idiot.

Especially pit bulls and the like, they have been bred hundreds of generations for fighting. The owner can't change the temperament of the dog even if he wanted to, so calling it Cuddles and giving it a collar with a bell on it will not help the fact it's a pure-bred fighting machine.

Then what is a Naquadah generator? [wikia.com] Naquadria [wikia.com] is a far less stable, more powerful isotope of Naquadah that SGC used to produce the first hyperspace capable Goa'uld/Tau'ri hybrid fighter aircraft.

I for one would hook it up to an Asgard replicator and ensure every single person on the planet had their food, clothing, material, and shelter needs met. Then I'd create a replicator for each home, hook the whole thing into replicated fusion plants, and allow the entire world to throw off the shackles of money and greed, living lives of leisure, learning, mutual co-operation, and self discovery.

Also known as Stargate's Emergency Plot Device. Ever notice how every one of them they find is almost dead or will be dead very very shortly, but is always just enough to save the plot? So it goes to follow that any ZPM would have exactly enough power to work at the auction and then be useless.

Yeah, that's pretty obvious. It was indeed introduced as a "save their ass" device, but it wasn't maxed out keeping the city running. It ran for the next two seasons, allowing them to raise and lower shields, engage and disengage the cloak, fire drones, and have plenty of power to spare for everyday goings-on. I believe it was the episode with Rodney and his sister experimenting with parallel universes in season 3 which drained the ZPM.

It ran for the next two seasons, allowing them to raise and lower shields, engage and disengage the cloak, fire drones, and have plenty of power to spare for everyday goings-on. I believe it was the episode with Rodney and his sister experimenting with parallel universes in season 3 which drained the ZPM.

For starters, I believe they claimed to be using some mini Naquada generators to keep the general city running. It was mentioned a few times in season 1 such as when there was an energy draining monster, and later they needed to make one give off an EMP.

As for the shield, I don't recall them using the left-over ZPM for that... they did use it to make a cloak but even they said that used very little power. Unless you mean the shield around the gate itself, at which point I don't recall if that was the ZPM

For starters, I believe they claimed to be using some mini Naquada generators to keep the general city running. It was mentioned a few times in season 1 such as when there was an energy draining monster, and later they needed to make one give off an EMP.

Yes... for season 1. The energy-draining monster was in episode 2 or 3 (I think it was called Hide and Seek). The ZPM found in the SG1 episode Mobius was sent to Atlantis for the season 2 premiere and used until the energy bridge incident. The one they got a few episodes later lasted to the end of the series, I believe.

As for the shield, I don't recall them using the left-over ZPM for that...

The shield was used in The Siege, Echos, First Strike/Adrift/Lifeline, The Last Man (not shown), First Contact, Enemy at the Gate... did I miss any? I forget which ZPM was used in Echos, but

They actually did a fairly good job of slowly integrating technology. At first, each alien tech was extremely rare and hard to find, then they would either find more or find a way to duplicate one.

The ZPMs worked exactly this way. At first they would get one, it would go away and they might get another. They were old and rarely had a charge. Towards the end there were actually a handful in use.

Same with ships and most other tech.

I like that technology wasn't arbitrary like on Star Trek, where they might get their hands on a technology or idea that was world changing to solve a single intractable problem, but then that idea would just vanish instead of getting integrated into the rest of the system. (Being able to travel backwards in time would have solved a LOT of problems, and they had that technology for a LONG time without anything preventing them from using it--eventually they figured out that it was a problem and invented a time-police, but that was much later)

Plus, a ZPM technically doesn't have much juice. Remember that episode where they phased the entire planet in a parallel reality? No ZPM available, so they had to use the US power grid.

I've never seen a ZPM do anything close to that.:P I think their perk is they store a *lot* of power in a very condensed form - not that they output ridiculous amounts. (though clearly they do output a lot)

Surely they could sell licenses for the software they use in place of a DHD. Didn't they even develop a DHD-in-a-laptop for emergencies (everything you'd need to dial a 'gate except power).

Seriously though, I would really like to have a copy of the software they use to create all those SGC computer screens and laptop interfaces, or at least the assets used in the software they use and some digital video of their use. Or even just the digital video of their use and I could reverse-engineer that. Something mo

Wake me when the sell the actual STARGATE. That prop is both sexy and mechanically-impressive.

Two full stargate props were originally built for the SG-1 pilot "Children of the Gods", the second of which was reconstructed from the prop used in the film. They are made of steel and fiberglass, and are 22 feet (6.7 m) in diameter. The second prop is less detailed, and is used for exterior scenes; in the pilot it was used solely on the planet Chulak. The primary one, however, is quite sophisticated. It is fully automated, and capable of rotating and emitting light. This is achieved by the use of a specially-designed 22-foot (6.7 m) circular gear, which turns the inner ring on a precise pinion drive wheel, using an eight horsepower electric motor. The top seven chevrons emit laser pulses which are read by a sensor fed into a computer responsible for the gate's movement, which is consequently able to start and stop the rotation very quickly. This main prop is kept almost immovably at the permanent set of the SGC, at Bridge Studios, Vancouver.

I thought of something else I could do in the meantime, though, to scratch that itch--Goa'uld transport rings. You know how the base station is embedded in the ground? I am pretty sure that I have seen on the show a circle made of seemingly weathered stone-like wedges, embedded into the forest floor.

They also simply paint the pattern onto the decks of the ships. It's occasionally shown clearly enough to get a clean image to build from.

It's a little unclear from the site if *everything* from SG1 and SGA are being sold off, or just select props that the writers don't envision ever using again? I wonder what this means for Stargate: Universe? I mean, in theory, they are still in contact with Star Gate Command, and at some point, they may get the Destiny Gate working again to travel back to Earth, so seems like you'd still need the SGC sets available. In any case, there's the Comm Stones, which give us glimpses of Earth again.

It's a little unclear from the site if *everything* from SG1 and SGA are being sold off, or just select props that the writers don't envision ever using again? I wonder what this means for Stargate: Universe? I mean, in theory, they are still in contact with Star Gate Command, and at some point, they may get the Destiny Gate working again to travel back to Earth, so seems like you'd still need the SGC sets available. In any case, there's the Comm Stones, which give us glimpses of Earth again.

SGU hasn't been cancelled (yet) - I saw somewhere that SyFy renewed for a second season. So, I guess that must mean that they aren't selling *everything*?

Neat. There is one problem, though: How are the Ori props going to sell, when so many Stargate fans don't believe that they exist?:p

Actually, perhaps that could be a selling point. I can see more than one use for being invisible to the hardcore fans. For example, Amanda Tapping could certainly use a Prior's Staff, judging by some of the comments here.;)

I just wish their merchandising division would have capitalized on the popularity of the shows years ago--most of my kids have wanted to dress up as one character or another at halloween, and I'd love to have a replica Zat. If they had made semi-decent toy Zats that cost about as much as a Nerf gun, I'd probably have one on my desk right now.

You're right SG merchandising for some reason was lacking to say the least compare other sci-fi series. The guns are cool items but my favorite was always the head dress especially the Anubis; i was surprise that they did not have the Anubis head dress up for sale.

Okay. I work as a set producer in vancouver. I don't work on stargate, but some of my friends do. Basically, their job is to turn stuff sold in junk and scrap stores into cool looking alien props. Their work on the last season of SGA was scaled back from normal. A couple months ago, Waring told them why. The next stargate spinoff will be an animated cartoon retelling of the first three seasons of SG-1. I'm guessing the props are being sold off as unnecessary. It sounds stupid, but you'd be amazed at the ins

Sadly this is the truth, A little about myself, I work in advertising, and we were shopped as one of many when it came to pitching a cartoon based on the StarGate franchise. We were told it would be similar in standing to the StarGate: Infinity cartoon that aired some time ago.
Honestly, this "pisses me off" because I like SGU and I doubt its coming back based on what I've been privy to.
I hope I'm wrong and that the April 2nd air date for the next episode happens.

1) Have you noticed that the stock market is tanking lately? Invest in what? As for savings, with the Federal government printing money as fast as it can, your cash's value is falling like a rock. You might as well buy something you enjoy with it.

2) Do you tell this to people who buy Picassos too? Those aren't all that easy to sell either. There's probably a lot more geeks on Slashdot who'd be interested in a Stargate prop for $2k or whatever than people able to buy a Picasso for its proper value.

Are you one of those people who has almost no material possessions, because they're too busy "saving" and "investing" all their money?

And the reason we have these economic problems is because of people like you, who "invested" their money in stupid places like the real estate market, creating a bubble that burst. People buying shit like Stargate props actually helps the economy; it doesn't create any kind of bubble, and helps to fund a productive venture (the creation of TV shows) that employs lots of people.

If you had spent your money on some TV show props instead of wasting it on overvalued real estate, then you'd still have those props to look at and enjoy, and probably sell to some other fan. Instead, you're underwater on your investment properties, or you've walked away and the bank is eating the difference and asking the government for a bail-out with newly-printed dollars. Good job on your "investing".

Yes, the Dow rebounded after last year's disaster, but in the last month it's been tanking.

I'm curious (really am), if you believe that last month's 4% decrease is leading to the collapse of the market system (and, by extension, American society as we know it), does it really matter what anyone does with their money? Shouldn't we all just be stocking up on canned beans and ammo?

If you had spent your money on some TV show props instead of wasting it on overvalued real estate

I don't think so. Purchasing items that are being produced helps companies pay employees to produce more stuff, which is part of a healthy economy. Purchasing an old TV prop, that may very well be worthless in a decade, that is being sold by people with lots of money that probably won't spend any more because of the sell, isn't likely to do anything positive to the economy.

The problem is that you are comparing risks of two different scales. One which is purchased outright with disposable income, the other is large that it can only be purchased with debt. In either case there is risk associated with the investment, and the values may very well tank afterward. But with the small item you are only out disposable income. With the larger value you add dept to yourself.

A more realistic comparison would be a movie prop that you purchase for $200k using a loan, versus a new cond

1) Have you noticed that the stock market is tanking lately? Invest in what? As for savings, with the Federal government printing money as fast as it can, your cash's value is falling like a rock. You might as well buy something you enjoy with it.

You should try investing in Canadian companies. My entire portfolio went up 25% in the last 6 months!:D

When you get sick of it you put it on ebay and get another fanboy/fangirl to pay twice what you paid for it 10 years down the road. This for me is my all time favorite show, having 1 or 2 small pieces to remember it isn't a waste of money in my mind.

You go and buy it and then put in on a shelf? Have people over and say look at that! It from the [insert show here] TV show!

After you dump the hundreds or thousands of dollars on that crap and you get tired of it, you'll stick it in a closet or on a shelf.

Take the money and invest it or save it. One day you will need it and the market for this shit isn't liquid - meaning, you won't be able to sell the thing to another sucker when you really have to.

People are so stupid with their money. No wonder we have these economic problems.

There's nothing wrong with a passion, so long as it's legal and you don't go over-board.

Some people buy art, golf clubs, performance parts for their car, PC equipment. Sure, if you let it go too far and buy more stuff than you can afford, it's an issue.

Some people really love the show; maybe they felt it played a part in their life, maybe they met a friend/spouse/etc due to a common point-of-interest, maybe they just enjoyed the show.

I'm not really into art or antiques, but that doesn't mean I shake my head when I hear someone bought a piece for their living room. So long as they don't put themselves in the financial hole, I say got for it.

I try to keep a nice entertainment system at home along with TV/devices/furniture/lighting/etc. I don't go overboard with it, but it's something I enjoy.

What is happening with the Stargate props now is a lot like what happened to Star Trek when they had the It's A Wrap! auction after Enterprise went off the air. At that point Trek properties had been in continuous development at Paramount for nearly 30 years, so the auction gave everyone a chance to finally get a good look at things that the different productions had been batting around and re-using for ages. A lot of fans with interest in the props really had a field day with that.